Baseball regional has 4 good teams

There won’t be many secrets Saturday when the Johannesburg-Lewiston baseball team hosts Hillman in the first regional semifinal in Johannesburg.

The Cardinals and Tigers battled just two weeks ago, with J-L winning 8-7 and 14-8.

It should be another good battle when these hard-hitting clubs square off again.

“We have an idea as to what they do and so do they about us,” said J-L coach Rick Guild. “They have a solid team and hit the ball well, and so do well. If any thing, I think we’re a little bit better of a fielding team.”

J-L and Hillman also know each other well in tournament play. Last year, in a star-studded district that featured three ranked teams, No. 3-ranked Hillman topped the No. 7-ranked Cardinals in extra innings.

The star of that game — Hillman pitcher Chris Richards — is gone, but the Tigers (25-6) are still more than dangerous.

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Strike thrower Travis Schalk will likely get the start for Hillman, which has a lineup full of good hitters, led by Sheldon Kasky and Taylor Noffze.

“We’re expecting a very good game,” Guild said.

Just like Hillman, the Cardinals are also senior dominated as five 2008 graduates were named to the all-district team — catcher Nick Raffin, pitcher Brad VanCoillie, shortstop Tyler Smith and outfielders Stan Kwapis and Mitch Reed.

VanCoillie had another great performance against St. Mary in the district, allowing just three hits and no earned runs, while striking out 12.

Raffin and Kwapis have been consistent power threats all season long, while VanCoillie and Reed provide speed at the top of the lineup. Smith is the team’s best defensive player, while a sixth senior — Drew Kapture — has been steady at first base.

Reed and Smith are the team’s No. 2 and No. 3 pitchers.

“We just have to keep playing the way we’ve been playing all season long, especially the last three or four weeks,” Guild said. “We have been playing very good baseball.”

The other half of the bracket will feature another couple of good teams — Harbor Light Christian and Rudyard. The Swordsmen romped through the Northern Lakes Conference this season and are 30-3 on the season.

Rudyard, who plays in the rugged Straits Area Conference, won this regional last season and is led by one of Northern Michigan’s best players — senior pitcher Craig Wallis.

Wallis, who has been recruited by a number of schools including the University of Michigan, has been nearly unhittable this season.

Still, Guild said his team can hang with anybody in the regional.

“We have as good of a chance as anyone,” he said. “We just have to go out and win the first game and if we do that, we’ll play in the second.”